Means for locating piston rings



Oct, 7, 1930. E. NIETHAMER MEANS FOR LOCATING PISTON RINGS Filed Feb. 24, 1930 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

9 a v r 9 Jwar/ M87? M67.

Patented'oct. 7, 1930 EDWARD NIETHAMER, OI CITY, MICHIGAN mama iron LOCATING rrsron mes ap lication filed February a4, 1930. Serial No. 430,054.

This invention relates to meansfor locatmgpiston rings such asused in internal combustion engines and the like, and more particularly tov a means to insure the piston rings being set in exactly the same position, no matter how many times the pistons and rings are removed from the engine.

The prime object of the invention is to design a very simple, practical and inexpensive key or stop, which is mounted in the piston, and which has detachable engagement with v the piston rings.

Another ObJBCt is to provide a key which is easy to place in position, and which cannot become displaced excepting when the pistons are removed from the cylinders.

A further object is to provide a key which is very inexpensive to manufacture, which requires no change in the function of the piston rings, and which can be shaped to suit rin s of various designs and makes.

The a ove and other objects will appear as the specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in Which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention,and in which like ref-' erence numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a piston showing a key in position thereon. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, a part being broken away to show the mounting of the key.

Fig. 3 is a detail side view of the key pro er.

1g. .4. is an edge view thereof. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the key designed to be used with a step pis-' ton ring.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2. a Fig. 7 is a detail side view of the key last described. t Fig. 8 is an end view thereof.

Fi 9 is a fragmentary side view of a piston s owing a modified key design. Fig. 10 is a. fragmentary part sectional plan view. a

After a motor has been 0 rated for a comparatively short period 0 time the cyl- .-the piston so that the ke .therein, the key being ma e of brass, so that inder walls are worn out of round, this is due to the angle or position of the connecting rodswith relation to the piston after the fuel charge in the cylinderis fired, which sets up a side thrust forcing the istons against the side of the cylinder wal s, and

consequently wears them out of round, naturally the rings accommodate themselves to this shape, and when a motor has been overhauled or reconditioned, it very often pumps oil, has a very low compresslon, and conse uently little power, and this is due to the act that the piston rings have not been replaced in exactly the same position, and these disadvantages have overcome by keying the rings so that no matter how many times the pistonsand rin s are removed, they will always be replaced in identibally the same position.

Referring now particularly to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates a piston such as used in a conventional internal combustion motor, this is provided with the ring grooves 6 as usual, and rings 7 are adapted to be seated in said grooves, the rin s as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing eing cut on an angle as shown.

A key member 8 is adapted'to be mounted in the piston in position as shown, a narrow slot being mille or otherwise rovided in can e mounted it will not wear or mar the cylinder walls of the motor in which it is used.

'. The key is set in the piston at an angle to conform to the angle of the split in the piston ring, the one edge being rounded as shown at 9, so that it can readily be inserted, and so that the proper slot for mounting can be readily out.

In Figs. 5 to 8 of the drawing I have shown a keyof different shape, and such as used with a step ring, in this construction either the upper orlower step 10 in the ring is lengthened a distance to accommodate the head 11 of the key, a shank 12 being formed integral with the head, and'is drilled into the piston as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, this is also formed of brass, and

the head 11 is rounded to conform to the diameter of the cylinder.

Figs. 9 and 10. of the drawing show another simple modification tube used with the piston ring shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this comprises a straight pin member 13, mounted in an opening 14 provided in the piston, the rin be ng bored as shown at 15 to accommo ate said pin, said bore being slightly larger than the pin diameter, this construction is cheaper than that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and is equally effective.

This key in no manner interferes with the expansion of the rings, it is cheap to manufacture and simple and easy to install. it insures the rings being, replaced in identically the same position, "thereby insuring against loss of compression and power, and pumping of the oil.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have erfected a very simple,

practical, and elfective key for positioning piston rings.

What-I claim is 1. The combination with a'piston provided with piston ring grooves therein, a slot milled in said piston and at an angle with relation to the groove, and a semi-circular key mounted in said piston and adapted to fit the milled slotv in said piston.

2. The combination with a piston provided with a piston ring groove, a piston ring mounted therein, a semi-circular slot milled in said'piston and at an angle with relation to the groove, and a relatively thin semicircular disk key inter osed between the ends of the piston ring an adapted to be mountedin said slot. 1

,In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

.- EDWARD NIETI-IAMER. 

